Sports Desk

It might not appear to be kosher up front, but Dirigo is still focused on knowing it has secured another berth in the Mountain Valley Conference championship boys baseball game. A predetermined scheduling fluke will pose a rematch between the Cougars and Saint Dom's.

Dirigo had clinched its way-in, winning its 12th straight game when Spencer Trenoweth was the winning pitcher in an 8-2 triumph over Mount Abram. The junior was solid in a five-inning performance, both Roadrunner runs were unearned. TJ Frost hit a solo home run on to Nash Street, as the Cougars clinched a berth in the MVC Championship game, to be played at next week Saint Dom's in Auburn.

The Cougars win had improved their record to 12-1, so based on records of other MVC teams, it was thought their opponent would be Telstar, who had two losses. Dirigo plays the Rebels this afternoon in the regular-season final in Bethel. The next two teams are Hall Dale and St. Dom's, who each have four losses.

The following afternoon, coach Ryan Palmer was informed by athletic director Chris Moreau that the MVC uses a different criteria to determine opponents for its championship games.

Each team can schedule a maximum of 16 games during the regular season. The MVC only counts the first games played between teams (first half of schedule). Therefore, St. Doms had a near-flawless record the first time through the schedule. Its early losses against Lisbon and Wiscasset counted, but losses to Spruce Mountain and Dirigo (13-6 last week) each resulted the second time the teams played each other. The Saints also owned a tiebreaker because they had mercy the Rebels in Bethel.

The lone Dirigo loss was to St Dom's by 4-2 in the season opener.

The Saints and Cougar teams have created a well-respected rivalry, with several thrilling games in the past few years. In 2009, Saint Doms beat Dirigo 1-0 in the Western Maine Regional final and then won the Class C state championship. In 2010, St. Doms beat Dirigo beat in the MVC championship game but the Cougars beat the Saints in the regional final en route to winning its first-ever state championship. Last year, the roles were reversed, as Dirigo won the MVC crown, however, SD won the regional final and the state championship game.